Jacking apparatus



April 17, 1934- J. GUTMANN, JR, ET! AL 1,954,994

JACKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 IINVENTORS Joan w ATTORNEY April 1934- J. GUTMANN, JR., ET AL JAGKING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1930 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 MENTOR! I BY m 4" e Z A ORNEY Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES JACKING APPARATUS John Gutmann, Jr., St.Albans, N. Y., and Austin M. Wolf, Newark, N. J., assignors to Motor Jack Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 15, 1930, Serial No. 475,478

3 Claims. (Cl. 254-86) This invention relates to jacking apparatus used particularly for raising automobiles to facilitate repairing of the parts or changing the tires of the vehicle and has for an object the provision of such a device which is novel, of simple. durable construction, dependable in use and emcient in action.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automobile with mechanically operated jacks at its front and rear ends, and electrical means for driving the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to utilize the electrical starting motor of the vehicle for actuating the jack mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of means for breaking the electric circuit supplying current to a motor driving jackmechanism, when the jack reaches the limit of its stroke in either direction; and a further object is in the provision of means for varying the circuit whereby rotation of the motor armature is reversed when the circuit is again established.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a form of jack construction employed in the invention.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2, drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the application of a crank handle.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the electrical switches and circuits employed in the form of jack construction shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a modified form of electrical switches and circuits employed in the form of jack construction shown in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a front view of a switch panel used in conjunction with the invention showing the switches and switch contacts in dotted lines.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of tripping arrangement for use with the disclosure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 shows a fragmentary detail of a trip rod for use with the arrangement shown in Figure '7. In Figure 1 is shown an electrical starting motor 10 which may be started through operation 2 of the switch 11 by depressing the foot lever 12 which closes the electrical circuit formedby the conductors 13, 14, windings ofmotorl'o, conductor 15', ground connections 16 and 17, and conductor 18 back to the electrical power source which in the drawing is shown as the battery 19. As the mechanism employed to throw gear 20 into mesh with gear 21 does not form part of this invention, it will not be described herein.

Disposed on top of a lever handle 22 is a spring button contact 23 which, when depressed connects with a contact point 24 provided immediately below the button contact 23. This connection closes the electrical circuit formed by conductors, 13,25, 26, windings of motor 10, conductor 15, ground connections 16 and 17 and conductor 18 back to battery 19. Completion of this circuit starts motor 10 which is shown supported on a casing 27. There is thus provided a switch connected in the circuit and independent of the usual motor starting switch for starting the motor.

Formingan extension of the armature of motor 10 is a shaft 28 rotatably supported in the casing 27.

A grooved clutch collar 29 is longitudinally slidable upon the shaft 28 and a key'30 holds the collar 29 rotatively without restraining its sliding movement. The collar 29 is provided with projecting lugs 31. Gears 32 and 33 are loosely supported on the shaft 28 and are provided with pins 34. A forked arm 35 engages the clutch collar 29 within its groove and extends upwardly through an opening in the casing 27 to connect with the lever handle 22. An idler gear or pinion 36 rotatably supported on a stub shaft 37 meshes with gear 33. Each of the shafts 38 and 39 have an end rotatably supported in the casing 27 which extends therefrom, the said shafts being in alinement and having their other ends engaging each other in such manner that each is independently rotatable. The shaft 38 is connected outside casing 27 to a flexible shaft 40 by means of a coupling 41. Within this casing 27 the shafts 38 and 39have supported thereon respectively, the gears 42 and 43.

A sleeve 44 is loosely mounted for rotation on the shaft 38 and keyed to rotate with the sleeve 44 are the gear 45. and gear 46.

An internal gear element 47, provided with a grooved collar or spool 48, is slidably keyed tothe sleeve 44 for longitudinal movement thereon and is adapted to be engaged with either gear 42 or gear 43 by a forked arm 49, which loosely engages pending upon whether it is desired to raise the front or rear of the vehicle. Assume that it is desired to raise the front end of thevehicle, that is, to extend the jack. Then internal gear 4'7 is slid into engagement with gear 42, the button contact 23 is then depressed. This operates the motor 10 which revolves shaft 28 and clutch collar 29. The clutch 29 is then thrown into engagement with gear 32 through operation of handle lever 22. Rotary motion is transmittedfrom gear 32 to gear 45, internal gear 4'7, gears 42, 38, 40 and thence to the front jack. If it is desired to lower the front end of the vehicle, that is, to retract the front jack, the clutch collar 29 is thrown into engagement with gear 33. R0- tary motion is transmitted from gear 33 to idler gear 36 and reverse gear 46 which causes sleeve 44, internal gear 47, gear 42, shafts .38 and 40 to rotate in a direction oppositet'o that for raising the vehicle. To operate the jack at the rear of the vehicle, internal gear 47 is slid into engagement with gear 43 and motion is transmitted to shaft 39' and hence to the rear jack in the manner hereinbefore mentioned with relation to the front jack.

A form of lifting jack construction for motor vehicle is shown in-Figure 2, where 2' represents an electrical motor secured to the casing 2'7. Forming an extension of the armature shaft of motor 2' is a shaft 50 which projects within the casings 2'1. Fixed upon shaft 50 to rotate therewith is a fly wheel 51 and a worm 52. -A friction clutch 53 is provided intermediate the fly wheel 51 and motor 2'.. Rotatably mounted in the casing 2'7 is a shaft 54 upon which there is fixed a worm wheel 55 which is meshed with the worm 52, and upon the same shaft is fixed a worm 56 which is meshed with a worm wheel 5'7 loosely supported on a sleeve 58, the latter being rotatably mounted in the casing 27. The worm wheel 5'7 is provided with pins or projecting lugs 5'7.

Supported in the sleeve 58 is a shaft 59 having one end 59' abutting against a spring 60 located within the sleeve 58 at the closed end 61 thereof. The other end 59' of shaft 59 projects from the open end 62 of sleeve 58. A clutch collar 63 having projecting lugs 63' is secured to end 59 of shaft 59 by a pin 64 which projects through slots 65 in sleeve 58. The spring 60 normally holds the clutch collar 63 in engagement with worm wheel 5'7.

Keyed to the sleeve 58 is a worm 66 which is meshed with a worm wheel 67 having a threaded bore. A jack screw 68 threadedly engages with the worm wheel 6? through the bore. The 'jack screw 68 extends through the casing 2'7 and is held against rotation by a key 69 projecting from the casing 2'7. A foot '70 is attached upon the bottom end of the screw 68, and is positioned below the casing 2'7.

In the event that, for some reason or other, the

motor 2' becomes inoperative the jack can be 1 manually operated. To do this a crank handle 70' is provided which is adapted to engage the polygonalportion .71of sleeve 58. As handle 70 engages with'thesleeve 58, and since the end 59" of shaft 59 protrudes beyond the sleeve 58. the said shaft is forced inwardly against the tension of spring 60. This movement disengages the clutch collar 63, which is secured to the shaft, from the worm wheel 5'7. By turning the crank handle the jack is manually operated with facility.

Figure 4 shows a means for starting motor 2 and for automatically breaking the motor circuit when the limits of extensionand retraction of the jack are reached.

Mounted within the motor vehicle body preferably upon the instrument board is a contact button '75 provided with a stem '76 which slidingly engages a sleeve '17 within a casing '18. Secured to the end of stem '76 extending within casing '78 is a plunger or core '79. One terminal of the solenoid winding is connected to a block 81 disposed directly below the bottom end of the core 79. A spring '75 encircles the top portion of stem '76 to normally keep core '79 out of contact other arm 88 of the reversing switch by a conductor 89. A contact 90 of the reversing switch is connected to another contact 91 of the revers ing switch by a conductor 92, and is also connected to one terminal of the field winding 93 by a conductor 93'.

The other terminal of the field winding 93 is connected to the other terminal of battery 82 by a conductor 82.

Pivotally mounted on a rod 94 which is slidingly supported by the casing 27', is an arm 95, to'which the switch arms 85 and 88 are secured. The arm 95 is held. undertension by a spring 96.

To operate the jack, button '75 is depressed to engage the plunger '79 of the solenoid with block 81. A complete circuit is thereby established from battery 82, conductor 83, sleeve 7'7, plunger 79, block 81, winding 80, conductor 84, switch arm 85, conductor 87, armature 86, conductor 89, switch arm 88, conductor 93, field winding 93, conductor 82 back to the battery 82.

The motor 2' will operate the mechanism to extend the jack. When this circuit is made by depressing button '75 the solenoid is energized and maintains'the circuit. When the jack is fully extended, a flange 9'7 provided at the upper end of the jack screw 68 engages the rod 94 and moves it downwardly. This movement of the rod causes the switch arms 85 and 88 to leave the contacts 84 and 90 respectively, thus breaking the circuit. The solenoid being de-energized, spring 75' causes plunger '79 to be separated from block 81. The momentum of fly wheel 51, continues the progress of the jack screw to throw the switch arms 85' and 88 in contact with contacts 91 and '84, respectively.

If it is desired to lower the motor vehicle, the button '75 is again depressed. A complete I circuit is thereby established, but the current will now flow through the armature of motor 2' in the opposite direction due to the position of the switch arms of the reversing switch.

A circuit will now be e'stablished from the battery 82 through contact 84 (as before) then through arm 88, conductor 89, the armature 86, conductor 87, arm 85, conductor 92, conductor 93', field winding 93 conductor 82' to battery 82. The motor will thus operate to retract the jack. When the jack is fully retracted its foot engages the bottom of rod 94 and moves it upwardly. This movement of the rod causes the switch arms to leave their contacts de-energizing the solenoid and again breaking the circuit. The momentum of the fly wheel continues the progress of the screw to throw the switch arms back to their original positions.

A modified form of tripping arrangement is shown in Figure 5.

Dogs 115 are pivotally secured to the slidable rod 94', which when moved about their pivots are compelled to return to original position by the springs 98. Pivotally attached to an insulated plate 99 is a lever arm 100. One end of arm 100 normally contacts with a terminal 101, and the other end thereof projects into the path of the dogs 115. A spring 102 returns the arm 100 to its normal position when swung. The lever arms 103, 104 of the reversing switch are pivotally secured to a cam link 116, which when the solenoid is energized, is engaged by plunger 79'.

To extend the jack, the lever arms 103, 104 of the reversing switch are thrown in the position shown in Figure 5. A circuit is thus established from battery 82' through conductor 105, arm 100, motor field winding 93', solenoid winding 80', switch arm 103, motor armature 86', switch arm 104 and back to battery 82. This circuit not only operates the motor but also energizes the solenoid which causes plunger 79' to engage with cam link 116.

The plunger in this position holds the switch arms 103 and 104 in the position in which they were thrown, and against the action of the springs 103', 104'.

The circuit remains complete until the jack is substantially fully extended when the flange 97 engages the rod 94', moves the latter down, thus causing the upper dog 115 to trip the arm 100 and to break contact between the arm 100 and terminal 101. The circuit being broken, the core 79 is de-energized and the switch arms 103, 104 return to neutral position. After the circuit is broken the lever arm 100 snaps back to its original position in contact with terminal 101 by the action of spring 102.

To retract the jack the lever arms 103, 104 of the reversing switch are thrown in the dotted line position shown in Figure 5. A circuit is thus established, from battery 82' through solenoid winding 80' as before, through switch arm 104, armature 86', switch arm 103 to battery 82', but the current will now flow through the motor armature in the opposite direction, thus reversing the rotation of the armature. The circuit will remain-complete until the jack is substantially fully retracted when the foot '70 of the screw 68 engages the bottom of rod 94', moves the latter up, thus causing the lower dog 97 to trip the arm. 100, and break the circuit. The core is thus "deenerglzed and the switch arms-103, 104 return to neutral position. As before, the lever arm 100 snaps back to its original position. Figure 6 shows a form of switch panel which may be used inconjunction with the reversing switch shown in Figure 5. Each of the levers 106 and 107 is mechanically connected to a reversing switch. Lever I06 operates the front jack and lever 107 operates the rear jack.

Assuming that after the jack has been lowered or raised and the circuit broken, the operator, through error, throws the switch in the same direction that he previously did to lower or raise the jack, the friction clutch 53 would function to prevent damage being done to the mechanism.

A modified form of means to trip the lever arm 100' is shown in figures 7 and 8. The lever arm 100' is provided with a pointed projection. A plunger 108 is provided with a pointed, reduced portion which projects from an opening in a casing 109 secured on the rod 94'. This plunger is impelled outwardly by a spring 111. When rod 94' is moved the tapered portion of the plunger will bear against the tapered portion of the lever arm 100 and swing the same.

It is understood that the starting switch or switches are preferably disposed within convenient reach of the operator of the vehicle.

Although we have described our improvements in detail and with respect to certain particular forms of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to such details since many changesand modifications may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspect, and we therefore desire a broad interpretation of the invention within the scope and spirit of the disclosure herein and the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In a motor vehicle having the usual electric starting motor, an extended rotatable shaft for said starting motor, a pair of gears rotatably mounted on said shaft, manually operable means for operatively connecting the shaft with either gear, a pair of rotatably mounted shafts, means adapted for operative engagement with the gears for rotating either shaft, selectively, in either direction, and a switch connected in the electric circuit, for starting the starting motor.

2. In a motor vehicle having the usual electric starting motor, an extended rotatable shaft for the starting motor, a pair of gears rotatably mounted on the shaft, means for operatively connecting the shaft with either gear, a pair of rotatably mounted shafts, means adapted for operative engagement with the gears for rotating either shaft in either direction, and a switch disposed within reach of the operator of the vehicle for starting the starting motor.

3. Jacking apparatus comprising driving means, a jack screw, means operatively connecting the driving means with the jack screw, said means comprising a hollow shaft, a gear rotat-,

ably mounted on said hollow shaft and operatively connected to said driving means, a worm fixed to said shaft in engagement with the jack screw, a shaft within said hollow shaft, a clutch for engaging said second-named shaft with said gear, said clutch being operably connected to said hollow shaft, and means for disengaging said clutch whereby the jack screw may be manually operated.

JOHN GUTMANN, Jn.

AUSTIN M. WOLF. 

